The Standard – Our Commandments

Believe on God’s Son¹; love one another (other saints²) as Christ has loved us; abide in Christ, John 13:34,35; 15:1-4; 1 John 3:24, 25. These are the commandments for Christian’s today. Christians are not under any quality of law, but rather under grace³. This does not mean that there is no standard for a Christian or that a Christian may continue in sin without any penalty⁴. Grace is not a license to sin; rather, through grace we are provided the ability to act righteously. The law⁵ of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is the standard by which we live. We fulfill the righteousness of the law of the Spirit when we are […]

The Standard – Our CommandmentsLuther Walker2023-11-23T14:10:31-08:00

Why do we need salvation?

To understand why we need salvation we need to go back to the beginning when God created humans. He created Adam in His image and likeness and built Eve from his side¹. Adam was given a commandment by God that he was not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In the day in which he ate of it the punishment would be death². Not just physical death, but also spiritual death – dying you will die. Although Eve was thoroughly deceived and transgressed the law, Adam was not deceived and chose to disobey God. The result was spiritual separation from God and now he is subject to physical death. Did God setup Adam and Eve to fail? Absolutely not. He gave them all they needed to success. Satan deceived Eve into eating the fruit from the tree; however, Adam was not deceived at all and of his own free will chose to eat, knowing he was disobeying God³.

So what does this have to do with us and why we need […]

Why do we need salvation?Luther Walker2023-12-14T11:16:16-08:00

An In-Depth Look at Romans 5:12-21

When examining Romans chapter 5 verses 12 through 21 it is important to understand the difference between a trespass, sin, transgression, gift, and gracious gift in order to comprehend what is being revealed. Many of our modern translations are not consistent when translating in this section of Scripture, even though in other areas some translate the words correctly. By mistranslating words, confusion is brought into a very important section of Scripture. However, since there are no textual problems that are causing confusion, we just need to simply look at the original language to clear up any confusion.

To understand the difference between a trespass and a sin we can examine the process by which a sin is produced. This process is found in James 1:14, 15 But each one is tempted (solicited to do that which lacks in character), having been lured and baited by his own lust. Then the lust having conceived, births sin, and the sin having been brought to completion births forth death. A temptation is presented to us that draws us out of our safe place and gets us to bite. Both of these terms are fishing terms. The first is used to lure the fish out, and the second is used of baiting the fish into biting the hook. In like manner, the desire lures us out of our safe place, which is a mindset that is framed on the truth not the desires from the flesh, and attempts to get us to accept it as our own. Once we accept the temptation as our own and determine to fulfill it, we have trespassed – offended God. Sin is then birthed from the trespass.

Scripture uses the same terms for how a […]

An In-Depth Look at Romans 5:12-21Luther Walker2023-11-23T14:10:11-08:00

The Proper Use of the Old Testament

Two types of doctrine are found in Scripture that are revealed through two Greek words used for different types of teaching; doctrine that is to be learned and practiced and doctrine that is to be learned, but NOT practiced.

“All Scripture is God breathed and profitable towards teaching, towards conviction, towards correction, towards child training in the righteousness” , 2 Timothy 3:16.

“Teaching” refers to information to be learned but not practiced. Conviction, correction and child training in the righteousness relates to doctrine that is to be learned and practiced.

“And having various gracious gifts according to the grace, the one given to you, whether prophecy, according as the portion of the faith, whether the one serving, in serving or the one teaching, in teaching…” Romans 12:6, 7.

“… and He gave the Apostles, and the prophets, and the evangelists, and the pastors even teachers…” Ephesians 4:11.

The “Pastor” and the “Teacher” in the Ephesians passage are the same person. It is the primary responsibility of the Pastor as the shepherd to teach doctrine that is to be learned and practiced; however, he is also to properly handle Old Testament information by teaching it as information that is to be learned, but not practiced. In addition to the Pastor properly handling the Old Testament information, God has proved others with the Spiritual gift of teaching who properly teach the value of the Old Testament information without abusing it by seeking to make it doctrine to live by in this day and age (Romans 12:6,7). This is not restricting doctrine to be learned and practiced to only a Pastor being able to teach it, but the Pastor is the primary method by which this type […]

The Proper Use of the Old TestamentLuther Walker2023-12-10T07:25:07-08:00

Pastor’s Notes

Pastor’s Study

Truth is very powerful. When we see things as they really are and accept the truth concerning our lives as Christians and God’s purpose for us, every aspect of our life is affected.

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman cutting straight the Word of Truth

Resources

Communication with God

The twenty-four elders fell down before the One sitting upon the throne and worshiped the One living into the ages of the ages and cast their victor’s wreaths before the throne saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and the inherent ability because You created all things and through Your desirous will we are and were created.” Revelation 4:10-11

And that which if we should ask, we receive from Him, because we guard His commandments and we do the things pleasing before Him. 1 John 3:22

We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, worshiping always concerning you , Colossians 1:3

Therefore, because of this let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to the God; that is, the fruit of our lips confessing His name, Hebrews 13:15

If perhaps we should confess our sins, He is faithful and just in order that He should forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, 1 John 1:9

And the vow of the faith will save the mentally ill and the Lord will raise him up and also the sins he committed will be forgiven him, James 5:15

Be anxious for nothing, but in all by worship […]

Pastor’s NotesLuther Walker2024-12-06T12:32:58-08:00

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